Mechanical sod cutter and loader



1953 A. B. LANCASTER 2,663,242

Fig

Archie E. Lancaster INVENTOR.

my EM L Dec. 22, 1953 LANCASTER 2,663,242

MECHANICAL son CUTTER AND LOADER 0 0 k- Arabia 8. Lancaster m INVENTOR. 0 9

BY wfiwqyfim Dec. 22, 1953 A. B. LANCASTER 2,663,242

MECHANICAL sou CUTTER AND LOADER 4 Sheets-,Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1950 Archie 8. Lancaster I N V EN TOR.-

Dec. 22, 1953 A. B. LANCASTER 2,663,242

MECHANICAL SOD CUTTER AND LOADER Filed July 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Arm/e 8. Lancaster INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 22, 19 53 MECHANICAL V Archie B. Lancaster, Duck Hill, Miss. 7

to new and useful im- L This; invention relates ,proven'ients in sod cutting machines and loaders therefor. t p

The'fprimary object. of this invention is to cut sod into strips of a selected width and predetermined-thickness and to" place the same in a position for ready transport to a place of immediate application or storage? V t Another important 'object'in accordancewith the preceding object is to so cut and place the sod for-transit that the same will be in excellent condition when subjected to a minimum "amount ofrough treatment, particularly at the time the same is severed from the soil; s

i? Another important objectof this invention is to provide a -machine of this" character which will be -capable of attaining sod from an undulating surface and which sod will be of uniform thickness. 3 Y

further a' 'machin'e of -this-character, which will leave the soil from which sod has been severed in good condition, and as little subject to erosion as po ssible before a new turf presents itself.

--A further object of this invention-is to provide a-machine ofthis character which will becapable of realizing the foregoing objects, and which may take the convenient and economical form of an attachment for conventional tractors.

'-Still another object of this invention isto enable the machine operator to eflicaciously deter-' mine the thickness of the cutand also permit the'operator to place the machine in condition for c'ross -country transit to and from the areaof sod tti m a ll,

A meritorious-feature of the present'invention resides in the plow-fork being pivotally mounted upon the tractor and the means for resiliently retaining-the plow fork in a vertically adjusted Do'sitionfi 3 Another important feature of the presentinvention'residesin'the relation of the "plow and the depth adjusting roller, in that the roller'is' positionedimmediately above the-leading edge of the -plow,- sorthat the pressure ofthe roller prevents the sod from breaking immediately abovethe-plow pointr a r g A further important feature of-the present -invention resides in the provision ofthe inclined conveyor, thelower forward end of which has its sidewalls enlarged and diverged to constitute training walls for sod received from the rear end of the rearwardlyand upwardly inclined plow-bed; 1 .Yet another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a trim rollerobject of this invention is-to provide 'Aepncaticn Jilly s, 1950, Serial No. 174,533 3*Clairns. (01. 97-226) 7 v 2 I at'the forward lower end of the conveyor for dressing the soil surface after the sod has-been sever'ed'therefrom. I

A final important feature to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the means for adjustably tensioning both the drive belt and the con veyor belt, and thesimple and-convenientmeans provided in the machine for driving the conveyor belt from the conventional power take-01f of the tractor.

ceeds, are realized by the present'invention,*one

embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 isa schematic side of the present invention; F

Figures 2 and 2atogetherconstitute a top plan view upon an enlarged scale of the complete machine, the 'tractorbeing shown in dotted foutline; *Figures 3 and 3a, togetherconstitute a side elevational view upon an enlarged scale of the complete machine, the tractor being'shown' in dotted outline;

V Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional viewof-the forward end of the loader taken upon the plane'of-the section line 4'4-of= Figure 2; I I I E Figure 5 is a detail view of the arrangement of oneof the idler pulleys and is taken from the plane of the broken line 5-5 of Figure 3a; v

Figure 6-is a diagrammatic view of the convey-' or belt driving assembly; F

Figure '7 is an elevational view of the machine taken upon the plane of the broken line 11-of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional 'de-" tail view taken upon the plane of the section line 88 of Figure'2. '1 g Reference is now mademore specifically'to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and in which a conventional tractor is indicated at H.) which includes driving wheels.il2,' dirigible wheels [4, drivers seat 16, steeringwheel elevational view I8, and which-tractor I0 is conventionally equipped with a power take-off designated at 20.

r The present invention comprises broadly a sod cutter assembly 22 and a sod loader assembly 24, each of which'is adapted to be mounted'upon and actuated by the tractor l0. The sod cutter assembly 22 comprises apair of 3 forwardly converging side rails 26 which are dis- These, together with various ancillary features aeeaass posed upon opposite sides of the tractor III and which are secured at their rear ends by bolts 2% or other suitable means to the frame of a tractor I0, while adjacent the forward ends of the rails 26 the same are secured to the tractor frame by means of the straps 30. The rails 26 constitute what will hereinafter be referred to as the plow frame.

As clearly shown in Figure 2, the forward ends of the rails 26 are disposed between the dirigible wheels I4 and connecting the forward ends of the rails 26 is a transverse axle 32. Pivoted at its forward end upon the axle 32 and extending rearwardly beneath the frame of the tractor I0 is a plow fork 34, which, adjacent its rearmost end is curved downwardly and is attached to a plow designated generally at 3 6. As shown best in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the plow 36'comprises an inverted U-shaped frame member 38 secured to the rear end of the plowfork 34 as at 40 and braced, as at 42, to the plow fork 34 for rigidity. At thelower extremities of the inverted U-shaped frame 38 is a plow bed 44' which issubstantially elongated. and provided with a V-shaped point 46 at its forward end and longitudinal slots 48 at its rearmost end, the plow bed 44 being upwardly and rearwardly inclined, as clearly shown in the drawings for a purpose to become readily apparent.

In order to limit the vertical penetrationof the plow point. into thesurface. of the ground indicated at.50, a gauge roller 52 is provided which iscarriedby a roller fork 54. The roller fork 54 is. secured to the plow fork 34 adjacent its rearmost end and is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 56, whereby the roller 52 may be adjusted vertically with respect thereto. It is to be particularly noted that the roller 52 is spaced vertically immediately above the leading edge of the point 46, sothat the roller '52, by bearing upon the sod. immediately at the point of severance from the. soil, prevents the sod breakingat, this,- critical point, it being readily apparent that by means of theadjustability of the roller 52 with respect to the frame 54 the depth of cut by the plow may be accurately gauged.

Inorder to sever the sod in strips of the. desired transverse width, a disk frame 58is suitably secured to theplow fork 34 in advance of the roller 52 and intermediate the ends of the plow fork 34, which frame 58. is preferably braced by. member 60. The frame 58. carries an axle, 62 upon which are adjustably positioned a plurality of rotary cutting, disks 64, which, disks 64 may be adjustably positioned on the axle 62 by any suitable means, not shown, in their hub'66 such as set screws or the like, or by the use of tubular spacers I58. of varying axial length suitably interposed between thedisks 64. It will be understood that any suitable number of disks maybe used, the number chosen being dependent solely upon. the width of thestrips and the number of the, same desired by the operator.

Since the plow 36, the roller 52, and the cutting disks 64 are all carried by the plow fork 34, it will be readily apparent that by vertical movement of the plow fork 34, about the axle 32 the same may allbe simultaneously raised or lowered out of or into engagementwith the sod as desired, thus providing a convenient means whereby the operator may raise all these elements. simultaneously when moving tov or from-a sod-cutting area or at any time it is desired that the same be inoperative. In order to provide means for the operator to raise and lower the plow fork'34, one,-

of the rails 26 is provided with an upstanding post It adjacent the rearmost end of the plow fork 34. Journaled on the upper end of the post It is a transverse shaft I2 provided with a hand operating wheel I4, which shaft I2 is provided with a gear 16 that cooperates with a gear I8 mounted upon a longitudinal shaft BI] that is also journaled upon the upper end of the post I0. As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the shaft 80 is bent at right angles at B2 to. provide a transverse extension 84 that terminates at its outer end in a tubular element 35 that slidably receives the upper end of a vertically disposed operating rod 88. The lower end of the operating rod 88 is suitably secured to the plow fork 34 as at 90, and the rod 83. is also provided withspaced stop collars 92 disposed on opposite sides of the tubular element'BG. In order to provide a resilient connection between the tubular element 86 and the rod 88, compression springs 94 are seated between the stop collars 92 and the tubular elementtii.v It

will be evident that anoperator of the machine. may raise or lower the tubular element 86. as desired by rotation of the hand operating wheel 14 to adjustably position the plow fork vertically and that the plow fork 34. will be resiliently retained in such vertically adjusted position, the

springs 94 serving as a yielding means for preventing damage to the entire sod-cutting. assembly 22 and also permitting theroller 52 to. readily conform tothe undulations of the ground surface.

The sod loader assembly 24. comprises a frame.

96 suitably secured to thetractor frame by bolts 98 and braces lilli secured to the rear ends. of therails 26. Suitably secured to theframe 96 is a pair of conveyor troughs indicated generally at- I62 and I64, the former of which is upwardly and. rearwardly inclined from the rear of thetractor I0, while the latter is rearwardly and downwardly, inclined from the upper rear end of the firstmentioned conveyor trough. I02. The conveyor trough I02 includes a bottom wall I06 and side walls I08. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and: 4,7

the lower forward end of the trough I02 is disposed rearwardly of; the plow 36 and is insubstantial alignment with the bed of the plow" 36 so that sod raised'by the plow may be readily received within the trough I02. adjacent the lower end ofthe trough I02 are enlarged as at I I0 and outwardly flared as. at I I2 to constitute a training wallfor sod receivedfrom the plow. A trim roller I I4 is carried by brackets Ihi adjacent the lowermost end .of the trough I02.-

in order to dress down the surface of the-soilafter sod has been severed therefrom. I

Attention is particularly directed to- Figure 6 for a ready understanding of the, operation of the loader assembly 24., The. power take-off 20, by means of sprockets I I8 and I20 througha drive chain I22, drives a suitable gear reduction assembly indicated generally at I24; the output of which gear reduction assembly through a transverse shaft on the frame 96 toa: pulley I26,- which pulley I26. drives a second-pulley I28 through a crossed belt I30. The.- pulley I2Il'is secured on one end of a second transverseshaft. I3I, which shaft I3I has a pulley I32 atitsotherend. The pulley I321, in turn, drives. a further pulley I34 secured on; one end of adrive roller. I36 carried at the upper end of thetroug-h I02; the pulleys I32 and I34-being connected by a drive belt I38 entrained thereover. As thus: far de-.- scribed, it will be readily seen that the. driveroller.

I36 may be driven by meansof; the tractor power take-off, 20,-; 7

The sidewalls. I08- I 24. is transmitted;

I44, havin'grone endsecured'thereto and the other end. adapted to 'seat'against the under side of the trough so as to'urge the idler pulleys I40 downwardlyto'bearagainst'the upper flight of the drive belt I38." .L

A second pulley I48 is carried by the drive roller 3.6,; ad a n th gulle alihw c pulley through a drive belt I50, drives a further pulley I52 carried by a second drive roller I54 carried at thelower and outer end of the trough I04, whereby both the drive rollers I36 and I54 may be driven simultaneously by the power take-off 20.

As shown in Figures 2A, 4 and 6', idler rollers I56 and I58 are disposed respectively at the forward end of the trough I02 and at the forward end of the trough I04, conveyor belts I60 and I62 being provided with the former being entrained over the drive roller I36 and the idler roller I56 and the latter entrained over the drive roller I54 and the idler roller I 58. As best shown in Ft'gure 2A, each of the drive rollers I36 and I54 are adjustable to vary the tension in the conveyor belts I60 and I62, the means provided consisting of adjustment screws I64 for the drive roller I36 and adjustment screws I66 for the drive roller I54, the arrangement being such that by turn ng of the adjustment screws the respective drive rollers may be shifted longitudinally of the frame 96 in slots, not shown, in the side of the troughs I02 and I04.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 3A, further means are provided for tensioning the conveyor belt I60, which means takes the form of a tension roller I68 disposed transversely below the upper end of the trough I02, over which the lower flight of the conveyor belt I60 is entrained. A further idler roller I10 is disposed below the trough I02 intermediate its ends, which idler roller I10 is journaled between the outer ends of a pair of arms I12, the inner ends of which arms I12 are pivoted to the frame 96 as at I14, the pivotal position of the arms I12 being controlled by upstanding adjustment rods I16 connected to the arms I12 intermediate their ends. Any suitable means may be provided for vertically adjusting the rod I16, such as by threaded adjustment of a nut I18 on the rod I16, which nut I18 bears upon a suitable bracket carried by the frame 96. As clearly shown in the drawings, the conveyor belt I60 is entrained under the idler roller I10 and over the tension roller I68, the arrangement being such that either by means of the rods I16 or the screws I64, the conveyor belt I60 may be readily and adjustably tensioned.

In order to avoid undue wear on the conveyor belt I60 and possible interference with the operation of the same due to soil and dirt falling from the sod to be conveyed up the trough I02, means shown best in Figure 8 are provided for discharging such loose soil or dirt from the trough I02. Such means comprise a transversely disposed and transversely inclined channel member I80 disposed beneath the trough I02 and the bottom I06 of the trough I02 being cut away as at 182 to open into the channel I80 so that loose soil within the trough I02 may fall into the channel I80 and be discharged from the trough I02.

As will be readily perceived upon inspection of Figure l, the center of "gravity V-ofiLthe loader '24isdisposed considerably to the rearvof the tractor-:10, andwhile it is contemplated that-support wheels may be provided therefor, it 'is' desired to leave the space under the loader 24 open so that loading receptacles-may, if desired, be towed thereunder, means having been' providedto com pensate for this rearwardly spaced center of gravity and to move the same more nearlyto the center of the tractor I0', which means takethe'form of a counterweight receiving platform I 34 carried by the forward ends'of the rails 26, which platform I8 is preferably provided with upstanding posts- I86 to properly retain any suitable form of counterweight orballast uponthe platform 184.

sincii fromthe-foregoing, the construction and advantages of mechanical sod cutter and loader are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sod cutting machine comprising a wheeled support, a plow frame attached to said support, an elongated plow fork having a depending plow at its trailing end for horizontally severing sod, said plow including a bed inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the leading edge theerof to raise sod vertically upon severance thereof in response to forward movement of the wheeled support, means carried by the Wheeled support for receiving sod severed and raised by the plow and elevating the sod to a position rearwardly of the wheeled support, said last means including an upwardly and rearwardly inclined trough having a bottom and side walls, said sid walls being enlarged and divergent adjacent the forward end of the trough to constitute a training wall for sod received from the plow, a transverse trim roller carried at the forward end of the trough, conveyor belt rollers disposed at opposite ends of the trough, means for operatively connecting the Wheeled support and one of the belt rollers, and a conveyor belt entrained over said belt rollers with the lower flight thereof disposed between the trough bottom and the trim roller.

2. A sod cutting machine comprising a wheeled support, a plow frame attached to said support, an elongated plow fork having a depending plow at its trailing end for horizontally severing sod, said plow including a bed inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the leading edge thereof to raise sod vertically upon severance thereof in response to forward movement of the wheeled support, means carried by the wheeled support for receiving sod severed and raised by the plow and elevating the sod to a position rearwardly of the wheeled support, said last means including an upwardly and rearwardly inclined trough having a bottom-and side walls, said side walls being enlarged and divergent adjacent the forward end of the trough to constitute a training wall for sod received from the plow, a transverse trim roller carried at the forward end of the trough, conveyor belt rollers disposed at opposite ends of the trough, means for operatively connecting the wheeled support and one of the belt rollers,

and a -conveyor belt entrained- -over :saidxbelt rollerswith'the lower flight thereofrdisposedibetween the trough-bottom and the trim roller, a transversely inclined *cleaning trough secured to the under side "of the trough bottom, andsaid trough .bottom being cut away to open into :the cleaning trough for discharge =of-.-loose soiltherefrom.

-3. The combination ofclaim 12,-.including-1a :furtherconveyor extending substantially horizontally from th rear-end of the inclined trough, andmeans carried by the plow frame at the opposite end 'of "the wheeled support from the conveyor for counterbalancingthe weight of the receiving andelevating :means. Y

"References Cited in the fileof $111.5 patent Number 1,511 ,090 1,832,546 1,854261 1,880,611 2,051,977 2,060 ;688 210L653 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Olmsted Oct. 7,, 1924 GI'OOD Nov. 17,1931 Irwin Apr. 19,1932 Vodon Oct. 1,1932

"Winston et;a1 Aug."25 .1936 P1';yor et a1 Nov. '10., 1936 "Mohler June "4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country 7 Date H Great Britain' Feb.28, 1924 

